# Jacking problem **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Created:** [May 19, 2021, 5:59pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/jacking-problem/176938 "2021-05-19T17:59:40Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![gbrunkard](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/gbrunkard/32/25705_2.png) [@gbrunkard](https://community.cartalk.com/u/gbrunkard)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2021, 5:59pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/jacking-problem/176938/1 "2021-05-19T17:59:40Z")
I need a bit of advice. I am trying to jack up my vehicle, which is a 2002 Ford Escape. My problem is that when I jack it up the vehicle lifts up but the tire does not seem to come off the ground. I just finished jacking up the passenger side and it went fine. But the drivers side tire does not seem to want to lift up. Anyone know what the problem might be. Is the strut gone ?? Would it be dangerous to jack it up if it is. ?? Please help and advise. ---
**Author:** ![NYBo](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/nybo/32/17281_2.png) [@NYBo](https://community.cartalk.com/u/NYBo)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2021, 6:29pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/jacking-problem/176938/2 "2021-05-19T18:29:24Z")
Are you using the factory jack and placing it at the specified lifting point? ---
**Author:** ![gbrunkard](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/gbrunkard/32/25705_2.png) [@gbrunkard](https://community.cartalk.com/u/gbrunkard)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2021, 6:30pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/jacking-problem/176938/3 "2021-05-19T18:30:43Z")
No, I am using a small floor jack with some flat wood on it to jack from the frame. ---
**Author:** ![NYBo](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/nybo/32/17281_2.png) [@NYBo](https://community.cartalk.com/u/NYBo)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2021, 6:32pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/jacking-problem/176938/4 "2021-05-19T18:32:28Z")
The jack you are using may not lift as high as the factory one. Maybe add a piece of wood under the jack. ---
**Author:** ![gbrunkard](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/gbrunkard/32/25705_2.png) [@gbrunkard](https://community.cartalk.com/u/gbrunkard)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2021, 6:37pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/jacking-problem/176938/5 "2021-05-19T18:37:30Z")
Here are a few picks. I’m worried I can see the center bar in the shock ![20210519_143154](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/original/3X/3/2/323a6d7508d296dfe5d05a109cc3d75f456e55bf.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![gbrunkard](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/gbrunkard/32/25705_2.png) [@gbrunkard](https://community.cartalk.com/u/gbrunkard)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2021, 6:38pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/jacking-problem/176938/6 "2021-05-19T18:38:35Z")
One more of the jack ![20210519_143206](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/original/3X/7/7/77575aed9ab166627b42b602f8fa9feec2cff2e2.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![weekend-warrior](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/weekend-warrior/32/26122_2.png) [@weekend-warrior](https://community.cartalk.com/u/weekend-warrior)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2021, 6:40pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/jacking-problem/176938/7 "2021-05-19T18:40:11Z")
always use jack stands. and placing wood on top of a bottle jack Is NOT safe. go to harbor freight and by a floor jack. it could save your life. and even with a floor jack ALWAYS use jack stands. ---
**Author:** ![gbrunkard](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/gbrunkard/32/25705_2.png) [@gbrunkard](https://community.cartalk.com/u/gbrunkard)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2021, 6:40pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/jacking-problem/176938/8 "2021-05-19T18:40:49Z")
Please see second image just uploaded before you posted. ---
**Author:** ![NYBo](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/nybo/32/17281_2.png) [@NYBo](https://community.cartalk.com/u/NYBo)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2021, 6:42pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/jacking-problem/176938/9 "2021-05-19T18:42:04Z")
Is that the same spot you used to lift the other side? The area looks awfully rusty. ---
**Author:** ![gbrunkard](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/gbrunkard/32/25705_2.png) [@gbrunkard](https://community.cartalk.com/u/gbrunkard)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2021, 6:43pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/jacking-problem/176938/10 "2021-05-19T18:43:33Z")
Yes it is the same spot. All lifted fine on the other side. Yeah, I know it’s rusty. Been lookin for a new one I can afford but this will have to do for now. ---
**Author:** ![weekend-warrior](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/weekend-warrior/32/26122_2.png) [@weekend-warrior](https://community.cartalk.com/u/weekend-warrior)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2021, 6:44pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/jacking-problem/176938/11 "2021-05-19T18:44:39Z")
sorry lack of sleep. didnt see you were using a floor jack. as far as seeing the center of the shock, thats normal. the covering just lifted up. thats not to say the strut is not still bad. ---
**Author:** ![gbrunkard](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/gbrunkard/32/25705_2.png) [@gbrunkard](https://community.cartalk.com/u/gbrunkard)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2021, 6:46pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/jacking-problem/176938/12 "2021-05-19T18:46:14Z")
If I go higher is the strut going to blow apart and kill me or anything stupid like that, lol. Never saw that before. Just trying to do a simple brake job which I have done before a few hundred times, lol. ---
**Author:** ![weekend-warrior](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/weekend-warrior/32/26122_2.png) [@weekend-warrior](https://community.cartalk.com/u/weekend-warrior)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2021, 6:49pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/jacking-problem/176938/13 "2021-05-19T18:49:23Z")
try lifting from the front of the car more. put the jack under the cross member. if your worried that the jack is not strong enough to lift both sides at once, then move it closer to the side you are lifting. or put the jack right under the lower control arm where the strut assembly is. ---
**Author:** ![gbrunkard](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/gbrunkard/32/25705_2.png) [@gbrunkard](https://community.cartalk.com/u/gbrunkard)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2021, 6:50pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/jacking-problem/176938/14 "2021-05-19T18:50:27Z")
More worried about this: > [@gbrunkard\_175338](#): > > If I go higher is the strut going to blow apart and kill me or anything stupid like that, lol. ---
**Author:** ![Nevada\_545](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/nevada_545/32/41232_2.png) [@Nevada\_545](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Nevada_545)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2021, 6:52pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/jacking-problem/176938/15 "2021-05-19T18:52:47Z")
Raise the hood and check the strut mount to see if it is falling apart. ---
**Author:** ![gbrunkard](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/gbrunkard/32/25705_2.png) [@gbrunkard](https://community.cartalk.com/u/gbrunkard)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2021, 6:53pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/jacking-problem/176938/16 "2021-05-19T18:53:25Z")
I’ll do that now. Last I looked there was no rust there at all. I’ll take a pic. ---
**Author:** ![Tester](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/tester/32/15976_2.png) [@Tester](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Tester)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2021, 6:54pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/jacking-problem/176938/17 "2021-05-19T18:54:07Z")
Check for a broken strut rod and a damage upper strut bearing. ![image](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/original/3X/7/2/72a5be2851f924a4c3b741b7afd40205cd09e7fb.jpeg) Tester ---
**Author:** ![gbrunkard](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/gbrunkard/32/25705_2.png) [@gbrunkard](https://community.cartalk.com/u/gbrunkard)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2021, 6:57pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/jacking-problem/176938/18 "2021-05-19T18:57:12Z")
This is what I see: ![20210519_145422](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/original/3X/1/a/1aa14bb9ea04669f23bed166f5e960d9e1fa7e69.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![Nevada\_545](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/nevada_545/32/41232_2.png) [@Nevada\_545](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Nevada_545)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2021, 6:59pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/jacking-problem/176938/19 "2021-05-19T18:59:52Z")
If that is with the vehicle lifted by the jack then there is nothing broken, you need to lift higher. A bigger jack would help, or more wood. ---
**Author:** ![gbrunkard](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/gbrunkard/32/25705_2.png) [@gbrunkard](https://community.cartalk.com/u/gbrunkard)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2021, 7:01pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/jacking-problem/176938/20 "2021-05-19T19:01:35Z")
I’ll go higher as long as I know the strut is not gonna kill me or a friend. Just never seen that middle shaft before in the shock. [Next page](https://community.cartalk.com/t/jacking-problem/176938.md?page=2)